Weft transfer mechanism for looms for weaving

ABSTRACT

A rapier weft inserter for looms for weaving comprises an inserter head having a pair of spring jaws which carry to the weft into or through the shed of the loom and a receiver head having a pair of spring jaws to which the weft is transferred, the inserter head passing into the receiver head and passing through the pair of jaws therein to separate the pair of jaws on the receiver head which close behind the inserter head and grip the weft yarn and on the return stroke the pair of jaws on the inserter head pass along the outside the pair of jaws on the receiver head to open the jaws on the inserter head to release the yarn; a spring on the inserter head moving to a position between the pair of jaws thereon to maintain the pair of jaws open during the return stroke and means for reclosing the pair of jaws on the inserter head as it reaches the selvedge and for severing the yarn, and means for simultaneously releasing the yarn from the pair of jaws on the receiver head at the opposite selvedge.

1 1 July 22, 1975 WEFT TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING [57] ABSTRACT A rapier weft inserter for looms for weaving comprises [75] Inventor: Peter Stockport Allsopp Halifax,

an inserter head having a pair of spring jaws which carry to the weft into or through the shed of the loom and a receiver head having a pair of spring jaws to [73] Assignee: Wilson and Longbottom Limited,

Barnsley, England Mar. 7, 1974 which the weft is transferred, the inserter head passing Filedl into the receiver head and passing through the pair of jaws therein to separate the pair of jaws on the re ceiver head which close behind the inserter head and grip the weft yarn and on the return stroke the pair of jaws on the inserter head pass along the outside the pair of jaws on the receiver head to open the jaws on the inserter head to release the yarn; a spring on the inserter head moving to a position between the pair of jaws thereon to maintain the pair of jaws open during 0 N R u zm 1421 1 9 1 o W S P sun A UIF l [ll References Cited the return stroke and means for reclosing the pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS jaws on the inserter head as it reaches the selvedge 1,802,311 4/1931 Glendhill................. .v..... 139/127 R and for severing the y and means for Simulta- 2,170,220 8/1939 Sullivan........................... 139/127 R neously releasing the y from the P Ofjaws Oh the receiver head at the opposite selvedge.

Primary Examinerl-lenry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norris & Bateman 7 Clalms 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 2 1975 SHEET \k lY PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 SHEET WEFT TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING This invention-relates to improvements in weft transfer mechanism for looms for weaving.

Rapier weft inserting mechanism for looms has bee proposed in which a rapier weft inserter is provided at each side of the loom, the weft on each pick being carried by one inserter half. way through the shed and transferred to the second inserter which draws the weft through the shed as the first inserter returns to the initial position for insertion of a succeeding pick. means being provided for severing the weft at the first inserter. beating up and changing the healds before the succeeding pick is inserted.

The object of the invention is to simplify the mecha nism in the rapier heads for transferring the weft from the inserter to the receiver head.

According to the invention a rapier weft transfer mechanism comprises an inserter head having a pair of spring jaws which carry to the weft into or through the shed of the loom and a receiver head having a pair of spring jaws to which the weft is transferred, the inserter head passing into the receiver head and passing through the pair of jaws therein to separate the pair of jaws on the receiver head which close behind the inserter head and grip the weft yarn and on the return stroke the pair of jaws on the inserter head pass along the outside the pair of jaws on the receiver head to open the jaws on the inserter head to release the yarn; a spring on the inserter head moving to a position between the pair of jaws thereon to maintain the pair of jaws open during the return stroke and means for reclosing the pair of jaws on the inserter head as it reaches the selvedge and for severing the yarn, and means for simultaneously releasing the yarn from the pair of jaws on the receiver head at the opposite selvedge.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two gripper heads;

FIG. 2 is a similar view with some parts partly broken away;

FIGS. 3 9 are sectional plan views of the gripper heads showing the two heads in differing positions;

FIG. is a side elevation showing the gripper heads at opposite ends of the shed before the insertion of a weft yarn;

FIG. 11 is a similar view showing the gripper heads at the centre of the shed transferring the weft yarn from the giver head to the receiving head;

FIG. 12 is a similar view showing the heads returned to the ends of the shed after insertion of a pick FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a loom showing the drive of the rapier head.

A loom is provided with a rapier weft inserter comprising a pair of weft inserter heads 1, 2 which travel from opposite sides of the loom through a shed over a reed or sley 3.

The receiver rapier weft inserter 1 is formed with a tubular body 10 that is rectangular or square in crosssection with a pair of spring wedge shaped jaws 4 mounted on the upper surface of the inserter and projects into the body through a slot 5 therein. The tubular body maybe provided with weight reduction holes 6 and is open at the end facing inserter head 2. The rear end of the body 1a is provided with a projecting arm 7 for attachment to a rapier rod 8. (FIG. 11).

The inserter rapier 2 is formed as a carriage 2a having two side arms 9 connected by a base 10 and with a pair of spring wedge shaped jaws 11 mounted on the base. A flat spring 12 is affixed to the rear end of the carriage. which is also provided with a projecting arm 7 for attachment to a second rapier arm 8a.

The free end of the spring 12 normally engages between the jaws 11 to maintain them separated but is formed with an upwardly projecting lug 13 which when depressed moves the spring downwards to release the jaws 11 which then spring together.

The rapier weft inserters l, 2 travel from opposite ends of the shed to meet in the centre.

The weft yarn from a supply carrier passes through a hole or eye 13a in the lug 13 and is gripped between the jaws 11. As the two inserters meet the inserter head 2 passes into the receiver head 1 (FIG. 4) and the jaws 11 pass between the jaws 4 of the receiver head which open as shown in FIG. 5 and then close again on to the yarn (FIG. 6). At this point (FIG. 6) the relative movement of the heads toward each other stops and the yarn is gripped by both jaws 4 and 11.

The movement of the two heads is then reversed as the rods 8, return to their respective ends of the shed. The rear ends of the jaws 11 engage the outer surface of the jaws 4 causing the jaws 11 (FIG. 7) to separate and release their grip on the yarn A which gripped by the jaws 4 of the receiver head 1 is drawn through the hole or eyelet in the lug 13 as the inserter head returns and is taken by the receiver head through the other half of the shed. During the opening of the jaws 11 the spring 12 is freed from the under side of the jaws (FIG. 8) and as the heads separate the jaws 11 close onto the end of the spring 12, and are held open so that the yarn A can pass between the jaws.

On reaching the end of the shed (FIG. 12) a plunger 14 engages the lug 13 which depresses the spring 12 thereby closing the jaws 11 onto the yarn A and at the same time a knife 15 is depressed to sever the yarn at the selvedge and the rapier heads commence a further pick.

A spring 16 on the receiver head 1 is simultaneously depressed by a plunger 17 to separate the jaws 4 and release the yarn therefrom.

Spring jaws 11 are formed at the ends of elongated spring leaf arms 11 which as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are fixed to body 10 at their ends opposite jaws 11. Arms 11' tend to close jaws l1, and, see FIG. 1, the enlarged free end 12 of cantilever leaf spring 12 is initially below jaws 11 when relative movement of the inserter and receiver start. However, when the jaws 11 are separated in passing over jaws 4, spring 12 flexes upwardly to dispose its enlarged end between jaws 11 (FIG. 8) so that jaws 11 cannot reclose (FIG. 9). Jaws 11 are reclosed to grip the new weft only when inserter 2 has returned to the original position (FIG. 12) and plunger 14 pushes down on lug 13 to flex spring 12 downwardly.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arms 11 have upper cotout portions 11" enabling jaws 4 to reclose to the FIG. 6 position after jaws 11 have passed through jaws 4. When jaws 11 return they encounter reclosed jaws 4 and are separated (FIG. 8).

Spring 16 is a leaf fixed at 16' and having a wedge 16" at the other end. When plunger 17 depresses spring 16 at the end of a weft passage, the wedge opens jaws 4 to release the yarn.

The cycle is then complete and the inserter head again enters the shed to insert a succeeding pick.

The heads are applicable for two rapiers meeting in the centre of the shed or for a single inserter rapier passing through the length of the shed and engaging a receiving head at the opposite side of the loom.

As shown in FIG. 13 as applied to avertical loom the rapier rods 8 are driven by pinions 20 engaging teeth on the underside of the rods 8, the pinions 20 being mounted on a shaft 21 extending into a gear box 22 at each side of the loom operated by a crank and connecting rod 23 from the loom cam shaft 24.

A plurality of rapiers may be provided for inserting a plurality of weft yarns.

The rapier heads 1, 2 are equally applicable for use on horizontal looms. What I claim is:

1. In a weft transfer mechanism for a loom for weaving wherein opposed rapier inserter and receiver heads are mounted for relative movement toward and from each other for moving a weft yarn through a shed in the loom, means for periodically driving the inserter head into and through the shed into coacting web transfer relation with the receiver head. a pair of spring jaws on the inserter head biased to closed condition for gripping the weft in the initial position of said inserter head. a pair of spring jaws on the receiver head biased to closed condition. cooperating formations on said spring jaws whereby during said driving movement said inserter head jaws with the weft gripped therebetween enter, separate and pass through said receiver head jaws which then reclose to grip the weft behind the inserter head jaws, means for returning the inserter head to its initial position. and cooperating formations on said spring jaws whereby on said return movement said inserter head jaws pass externally over said receiver head jaws to open said inserter head jaws to release the weft therefrom while the receiver head jaws retain their grip on the weft, means whereby said inserter head jaws are prevented from gripping the weft during return to said initial position. and means effective upon return of said inserter head jaws to said initial position for enabling said inserter head jaws to close on the weft.

2. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, said means for preventing the inserter head jaws from reclosing on the weft comprising a spring leaf having a part movable between said inserter head jaws when the inserter head jaws are separated during said return movement.

3. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 2, said means enabling said inserter head jaws to close on said weft comprising means for positively flexing said spring leaf to remove said part from between said inserter head jaws.

4. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, means for subsequently opening said receiver head jaws to release said weft.

5. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 4, said receiver head jaws opening means comprising a spring leaf having a wedge shaped free end and means for periodically flexing said spring to introduce said spring end between said inserter head jaws.

6. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, means effective upon return of the inserter head jaws to said initial position for severing the weft section extending through the shed.

7. A rapier weft transfer mechanism as in claim 1 a rod upon which each head is mounted to transfer the head to the centre of the shed from opposite sides of the loom and return them thereto. 

1. In a weft transfer mechanism for a loom for weaving wherein opposed rapier inserter and receiver heads are mounted for relative movement toward and from each other for moving a weft yarn through a shed in the loom, means for periodically driving the inserter head into and through the shed into coacting web transfer relation with the receiver head, a pair of spring jaws on the inserter head biased to closed condition for gripping the weft in the initial position of said inserter head, a pair of spring jaws on the receiver head biased to closed condition, cooperating formations on said spring jaws whereby during said driving movement said inserter head jaws with the weft gripped therebetween enter, separate and pass through said receiver head jaws which then reclose to grip the weft behind the inserter head jaws, means for returning the inserter head to its initial position, and cooperating formations on said spring jaws whereby on said return movement said inserter head jaws pass externally over said receiver head jaws to open said inserter head jaws to release the weft therefrom while the receiver head jaws retain their grip on the weft, means whereby said inserter head jaws are prevented from gripping the weft during return to said initial position, and means effective upon return of said inserter head jaws to said initial position for enabling said inserter head jaws to close on the weft.
 2. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, said means for preventing the inserter head jaws from reclosing on the weft comprising a spring leaf having a part movable between said inserter head jaws when the inserter head jaws are separated during said return movement.
 3. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 2, said means enabling said inserter head jaws to close on said weft comprising means for positively flexing said spring leaf to remove said part from between said inserter head jaws.
 4. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, means for subsequently opening said receiver head jaws to release said weft.
 5. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 4, said receiver head jaws opening means comprising a spring leaf having a wedge shaped free end and means for periodically flexing said spring to introduce said spring end between said inserter head jaws.
 6. In the weft transfer mechanism defined in claim 1, means effective upon return of the inserter head jaws to said initial position for severing the weft section extending through the shed.
 7. A rapier weft transfer mechanism as in claim 1 a rod upon which each head is mounted to transfer the head to the centre of the shed from opposite sides of the loom and return them thereto. 